Serrated pick-up



June 18, 1957 H. KNORR, JR

SERRATED PICK-UP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1 1955 INVENTR.

R .J R. R 0 N K H S E L R w June 18, 1957 c, H, Q JR 2,796,496

SERRATED PICK-UP Filed Aug.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHARLES H. KNORR JR.-v

. INVENTOR.

United States Patent SERRATED PICK-UP Charles H. Knorr, Jr., Wichita, Kans.

Application August 1, 1955, Serial No. 525,474

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-166) This invention relates in general to electric pick-up devices, and pertains more particularly to an improved rotatable drum constituting an important part thereof.

For the purpose of exemplifying the instant invention reference will be made to certain strip cutting apparatus where the pick-up will find especial utility. More specifically, the invention will be described in conjunction with an automatic machine designed for handling a long strip of narrow paper on which numerous photographic prints have been made. To sever the long strip into individual pictorial prints the strip is advanced in a longitudinal direction, stopped at correct locations for the cutting operation and then moved again, such action being repeated in a cyclic manner. Since the individual prints are to have uniform margins at the top and bottom of the picture, thus denoting quality work, it is necessary to control the stoppages rather precisely. This is done by means of an electrically conductive line or mark placed on one side of the paper strip duplicated at the proper intervals, these spaced marks bridging transversely spaced electric pick-up brushes. Closure of the circuit in this way energizes associated actuating apparatus for both brakingand cutting the strip.

Since the reliability of a system such as that described above is dependent upon the transmission of an electrical signal or pulse to the control equipment, it is essential that the brushes make good electrical contact with the conductive marks on the strip. To do this the pickup brushes in the past have been rather heavily biased against the strip material. This has the attendant disadvantage of increasing the friction between the brushes and the paper. Consequently, the brush wear has been excessive. In one machine currently available the contact members or brushes are embeddediin a plastic plate, the

upper surface of which is at table level and across which the strip is constantly moved. Just the friction produced by this rubbing is sufiicient to wear rapidly the brush or contact members to such an extent that their contacting surface is below the table top. As already stated, firm electrical contact is essential'in this type of operation,

and in the machine referred to which is now on the market the brush assembly has to be replaced several times a day, resulting in excessively objectionable down time of the machine.

Having prefaced the description with the foregoing remarks it is believed readily apparent that reliability of operation is a very important desideratum. This object is. inherent in the present invention. Also, however, it is most desirable to keep fabrication costs to a minimum, and the invention additionally has for an object a simplified and economical construction of the pick-up, this being possible withoutsacrifice of any reliability-attributes.

Although the invention seeks to minimize the occurrence of pick-up wear, nonetheless provision is made for adjusting for whateversmall amount. of wear that. does take place. In this-way, a machine equipped with a pick-up according to theteachings. of my. invention will I 2,796,496 Patented June 18, 1957 be long lasting, requiring notably little maintenance attention.

Not only does the invention have in view a structural ice orientation of parts providing good electrical contact with a minimum of friction, but it permits the use of practically any length conductive markings, inasmuch as the electrical strips utilized in contacting the markings extend in a zig-zag fashion from one end of the pick-up drum to the other, any neighboring two of which will be instrumental in energizing the relay system appurtenant to the machine.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a strip cutting machine having installed thereupon electrical pick-up.

apparatus falling within the comprehension of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the pick-up apparatus, the cooperable roller being removed and the strip being shown in phantom outline so as to picture more clearly the general appearance of said apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, taken in the direction of line 33 of Figure 2 and thus in effect constituting a fragmentary enlargement of the machine depicted in Figure 1;

Figure 4 isra flat or developed view of a portion of the otherwise cylindrical surface of the pick-up drum;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end view of the drum per se, enlarged over that end which is visible in combination with other elements in Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 6- 6 of Figure 4, the view being embellished so as to illustrate some of the details of the frame in which the pick-up drum is journaled for rotation.

Referring in detail to the drawings and specifically to Figure 1 for the moment, a strip cutting machine exemplifying the inventionis shown in sufiicient detail to enable the invention to be readily understood. From this view it can be seen that the machine comprises a work table 10 over which is moved a strip 12 of photographic paper having a series of printed pictures thereon. Operatively associated with the table 10 is a solenoid actuated brake mechanism 14 functioning to stop the travel of the strip 12 at desired intervals, and a solenoid actuated cutting knife 16 designed to sever the strip when braked. At the discharge end of the table is disposed a receptacle 18 into which the cut prints may fall.

The pick-up apparatus for controlling the mechanisms 14 and 16 is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20. As can be seen from an inspection of Figures 2 and 3 this apparatus includes a base plate 22 fitted into a flanged opening 24 in the table 10 and held in place by a plurality of screws 26. Secured to the detachable base plate 22, as by additional screws 28, is an L-shaped member providing an upstanding'post 30. This post supports a pin 32 on which is pivotally mounted an arm 34 having journaled at its distal end a roller 36. By reason of a torque spring (not visible) the arm 34 is biased in the angular direction designated by the arrow 38 (Figure 3) so as to cause the roller 36 to bear downwardly against the upperside of the strip 12.

Depending downwardly from the bottom of the base plate 22 is a pair of bolt members or guides 40 with nuts 42 threaded onto their lower ends. The role played by these guides 40 is to resiliently support a pick-up drum 44 which bearsagainst the underside of the strip 12, ac-

cess to this underside being by reason of an opening 46 provided in the base plate 22- Before continuing with the description of how the drum 44 is resiliently'supported, attention is at this time directed to the construction of the drum, both as to its mechanical and electrical characteristics. With this in mind, specific reference should be made to Figures 4 6. From Figure 6 it will be seen that the drum 44 comprises agenerally cylindrical hub or body 46 of plastic material, such as Bakelite. For the sake of a simplified explana tion it will be' assumed that the plastic body 46 is molded with a multiplicity of grooves thereinwhich are filled with metal. to form alternate strips 48 and 50 of zig-zag configuration separated by insulating ribs 51. Actually, these strips are identical, but since they are in different portions of the electrical circuit, as will presently be made manifest, it is deemed advisable to give them distinguishing reference numerals at this time. At any rate, it is to be noted from Figure 4 that these alternate groups of strips 48 and 50 typically positive and negative, respectivcly, extend longitudinally or axially from one end of the body 46 to the other. Also, it is to be discerned that the zigzag or saw-tooth configuration of these strips produces apices 52 belonging to the strips 48 and apice's 54 belonging to the strips 50, the apices 52 and 54 pointing in opposite directions and extending beyond each other circumferentially. Stated somewhat differently, the strips 48 and 50 are notched and the adjacent strips are juxtaposed in a re-entrant fashion so that portions of these strips lie to either side of a line such as the directional line 66.

The drum 44 further includes a pair of sleeve bearings 56, 58 press fitted into recesses provided on the hubs axis of rotation. Each sleeve 56, 58 is equipped with an integral flange, these flanges being distinguished by the numerals 60 and 62, respectively.

The flanges 60 and 62 are made part of the electrical circuit utilized in the control of the solenoid actuated cutter 16. In this regard, radial spokes or strips 64 and 66 on opposite ends of the hub 46 serve to establish an electrical path leading thereto. The radial strips 64 electrically connect the zig-zag strips 48 to the flange 60 and hence to the sleeve bearing 56, whereas the radial strips 66 electrically connect the alternate zig-zag strips 50 to the flange 62 and hence to the sleeve bearing 58. In some instances the press fitting of the sleeve bearings 56, 58 into their recesses will supply enough pressure of the flanges 60, 62 against the underlying inner ends of the radial strips 64 and 66. However, it is preferable that solder 68 be applied at these junctures so that good electrical continuity is assured.

Lest the overall benefits flowing from the disclosed construction of the drum not be fully appreciated, it is to be emphasized that the aforestated method of drum manufacture has been outlined rather sketchily, largely for the purpose of simplifying the explanation. In practice a number of printed circuit techniques could be selected from a'group of well known procedures. In so doing, the designer might form the strips 48, 50, 64 and 66 by electrolytic deposition, spraying, evaporation or by etching away unwanted metal where a metallic foil has been Wrapped around the hub 46. Also, it is not necessary to pro-form the ribs 51 as an inlaying or embedding operation may be resorted to. Further, the hub 46 is capable of being built up in a laminated manner and may constitute either a thermosetting plastic (one already having been mentioned) or may be one of the many thermoplastic ones. However, when using a thermosetting synthetic resin, the plastic should be only partially or semi-cured at the time the printing process is undertaken. In the partially or semi-cured state such resins are deformable but may be hardened or cured by the application of heat and pressure. As already mentioned, a preferred dielectric material may be a phenol condensation insulating material such as Bakelite.

Still another possibility would be to print the circuit strips 48 and 50 on a perfectly cylindrical hub, preferably filling the then existing grooves between the strips with an insulating filler. Thus it will be manifest that the drum 44 lends itself readily to a variety of constructions, certain of which will be more preferable under some circumstances than others.

The sleeves 56 and 58 have one end of stub shafts 70 and 72 received therein, and circum'scribing the shafts are thrust washers 74. A frame or yoke designated generally by the numeral 76 serves the function of supporting additional sleeves 78 and 80. Actually the sleeve 78 is press-fitted in a side plate 82, and the sleeve 80 in an opposite side plate 84, the latter being of insulating plastic material such as that constituting the hub 46. End plates 86 and 88 complete the frame, there being a plurality of screws 98 by which the various plates are madefast with respect to each other.

As already pointed out, the zig-zag strips 48 are connected to the flange 60 via the radial strips or spokes 64. By grounding the shaft 70 at 92 this portion of. the circuit is completed. The other half of the circuit extends somewhat similarly over the strips 50, the radial strips or spokes 66 to the flange 62. Through the conductive agency of the stub shaft 72 electrical current is transmitted to a terminal strip 94 held in place by a screw 96 so that it bears forcibly against the exposed end of said shaft 72. By means of a bared conductor 98 electrical conduction is made to the solenoid actuated brake 14 and cutter 16.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the assemblage is conditioned for energization wherever a conductive mark 100 (Fig. 2) contacts any two strips 48 and 50 on the drum 44. Of course, the various conductive marks 100 have been previously applied to the strip 12 and a spacing thereof was selected so that in the exemplified situation prints of a predetermined size will be severed by the cutter 16.

Owing to the employment of apertures 102 and 104 in the end plates 86 and 88, the entire frame 76 is constrained by the guides 40 for limited vertical movement beneath the strip 12 in pressural registry with the roller 36. Urging the frame 76 and the drum 44 upwardly are coil springs 106 encircling the guides 40 and bearing against the underside of the end plates 86 and 88. The upward movement of the frame 76, however, is limited by a pair of bushings or spacers 108.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood. The pre-rrrarked strip 12 is fed in the direction of arrow 110 (Figure 2). When the depicted mark 100 reaches the drum 44, it bridges (because of its conductivity) any two adjacent zig-zag strips 48 and 50, one of which may beconsidered negative and the other positive. By virtue of this temporary bridging action control power is provided for the energization of the solenoid actuated brake 14 and cutter 16. In this way, the strip movement is momentarily arrested while the cutter btlade descends against the strip 12 to sever off the foremost print. This control current flows over the following course: the con.- ductor 98, the terminal strip 94, the shaft 72, the sleeve bearing 58, the particular radial strip 66 associated with the particular zig-zag strip 50 contacted by a portion of the mark 100, a particular zig-zag strip 48 and its associated radial strip 64, leading to the sleeve bearing 56, the shaft 70 and finally the grounded connection 92 After a cutting operation the circuit is opened (as by opening normally closed contacts by a projection carried by the cutting tool apparatus) with the result that the brake releases its pressure upon the strip 12 so that it is permitted to proceed once again until another line 100 comes into' operative juxtaposition with the drum 44, thereby repeating the foregoing cycle.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently Widely different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted a illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetwe'en.

What is claimed:

1. Electrical pick-up apparatus comprising: a cylindrical drum of electrically non-conductive material adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis; coaxial annular flanges of electrically conductive material, one carried on each end of said drum to rotate therewith about the drum rotational axis; a plurality of elongated closely adjacent electrically conductive strips carried on the peripheral surface of the drum and extending generally axially from one of its ends to the other, said strips being of saw toothwlike configuration in flat pattern with the apices of each strip entering and nesting in the respective apices of the next adjacent strip, all said strips being electrically insulated from each other; conductor means electrically connecting each alternate strip on the drum periphery to one of said flanges; and conductor means electrically connecting each other strip on the drum periphery to the other of said flanges, whereby when any two adjacent strips on the drum periphery are electrically connected the two flanges are as a result electrically connected.

2. Electrical pick-up apparatus comprising: a cylindrical drum of electrically non-conductive material; coaxial stub shafts of electrically conductive material, one mounted in and projecting concentrically from each end of said drum, said shafts being electrically insulated from each other; a plurality of elongated closely adjacent electrically conductive strips extending axially along the peripheral surface of said drum from one of its ends to other, adjacent strips being electrically insulated from each other and being of saw tooth like configuration in flat pattern, with apices of each strip entering and nesting in the respective apices of the next adjacent strip; conductor means carried on one end of the drum and electrically connecting the adjacent ends of each alternate strip on the drum periphery to the adjacent stub shaft; and other conductor means carried on the opposite end of the :drum and electrically connecting the adjacent ends of each of the other strips on the drum periphery to the other stub shaft, whereby when any two adjacent strips on the drum periphery are electrically connected the two stub shafts are as a result electrically connected.

3. Electrical pick-up apparatus for a strip cutting machine comprising: a cylindrical drum; means for supporting the drum including a support member adjacent each end of said drum; coaxial stub shafts, one at each end of said drum supporting the drum from the two support members for free rotation with respect thereto, said stub shafts being electrically conductive and being electrically insulated from each, other; a plurality of closely juxtaposed circumferentially spaced electrically conductive strips of zig-zag configuration on the peripheral surface of said drum extending generally axially therealong, the apices of each strip entering and nesting in the respective apices of the next adjacent strip, said strips being electrically insulated from each other; means electrically connecting alternate ones of said strips to one of said stub shafts; other means electrically connecting each of the other strips to the other one of said stub shafts, whereby when the space between any two adjacent strips is bridged by an electrical conductor the two stub shafts are as a result electrically connected; and means connecting the two stub shafts in a common electrical circuit which is broken only by the spacing between adjacent ones of said strips.

4. In a strip or web cutting machine, electrical control apparatus comprising: a rotatable cylindrical drum having on the peripheral surface thereof a plurality of circumferentially spaced electrically conductive strips of complementally nesting saw-tooth configuration disposed generally axially along the drum surface in close non-contacting relationship; a pair of stub shaft receiving sockets arranged coaxially, one in each end of said drum, and disposed concentrically with respect to the drum; a frame for rotatably supporting the drum; a pair of electrically conductive stub shafts supported by said frame and extending therefrom into the respective sockets in said drum, said frame and drum including means for electrically insulating the stub shafts from each other; electrical conductors carried by the drum connecting alternate strips to one of said shafts; and additional electrical conductors electrically connecting the remaining strips to the other one of said shafts; and control circuit means for maintaining the shafts and hence alternate strips at different electrical potentials, whereby when any two adjacent strips on the surface of said drum are electrically connected the control circuit is closed to supply electrical energy for control of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,545 Maxim June 8, 1880 1,965,029 Bolza July 3, 1934 1,970,368 Fishburn Aug. 14, 1934 2,400,447 Wells May 14, 1946 

